Emporia State, SLIM Ph.D. students attend research retreat

March 25, 2013

School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) Ph.D. students attended the Spring ’13 ESU Doctoral Student Research Retreat at Emporia State University — Kansas City on March 16. The retreat theme was “Research and Dissertation Writing.”

Dr. Diane M. Rasmussen, assistant professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at The University of Western Ontario, Canada, presented “The Quality Behind Qualitative Research” and “Dissertation Writing: What Makes Academic Writing Consequential?” Ph.D. students reside in Kansas as well as in Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington.

Rasmussen has been a systems librarians and a corporate information technology professional. She teaches social media, research methods, web usability, systems analysis, database design, website development, and non-text information. In 2012, Rasmussen released two edited books: “Indexing and Retrieval of Non-text Information” and “Social Media for Academics: A Practical Guide.”

This event provided students with opportunities to develop knowledge and skills necessary for dissertation research and writing. Dr. Kathy Ermler, dean of The Graduate School at Emporia State University, and Dr. Mirah Dow, director of the SLIM Ph.D. program, updated students about Emporia State policy requirements and provided advice and encouragement.

The degree is designed to prepare scholars to conduct research that contributes to the theory base of library and information science and constructs linkages to contemporary problems, teach in academic areas, and develop leaders for libraries and information organizations. The program provides opportunities for students to customize studies to deepen knowledge of information science and includes concentrations in Instructional Design Technology and Information Systems.

Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive student-centered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.